The Rebel Witch

by Chandelle LaVaun

  I took a deep breath and unstrapped both dagger holsters from my thighs. I shoved them in the inside pockets of my leather jacket. The idea of handing over the Tarot deck made my skin crawl, but if Tennessee could let go of George, then I could do the same.

  I slid my leather jacket off and held it out for my sister. “Watch this?”

  Emersyn gripped the jacket. “You’re coming back for this.”

  “Of course,” I promised my twin.

  What can go wrong in the Garden of Eden?

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Tennessee

  It took everything inside me not to take Tegan by the hand to walk through the waterfall and into the Garden of Eden. Cooper was watching. Everyone was watching, even the Angel Gabriel. Who might be listening to this right now. After everything she and I had been through already, there was no way I could hold her hand and have it look natural. But then I remembered why we did the binding spell in the first place. If there was even the slightest chance we could be separated going through the waterfall, I didn’t want to risk it.

  I looked down and found her gnawing on her bottom lip. It seemed to be a new nervous tick of hers. I held my elbow out and smiled. “Ready?”

  A light blush touched her cheeks. She smirked then slid her hand into the crook of my elbow, then looked up into my eyes and nodded. “Ready.”

  I moved to the edge of the waterfall. Water droplets splashed onto my face.

  One, she said in my mind.

  Two.

  Three.

  Without hesitating another second, I stepped into the waterfall. The moment the water touched us, Tegan gripped my arm with her other hand. I reached over and covered both of hers with mine. Then the water was gone. I looked down to dry our clothes only to discover we weren’t wet.

  “We’re in the Garden of Eden.”

  I nodded and looked around. I hadn’t put much thought into what it might look like, but it definitely wouldn’t have been what I saw before me. The ground beneath our feet was light gray cobblestone. The pathway cut through white sand that stretched on in both directions as far as I could see. The sky was such a faint blue it looked white. Up ahead, the cobblestones turned into a small set of stairs. At the top, a chalice sat sparkling like glitter.

  We raced forward, all but sprinting up the stairs. When we got to the chalice, Tegan dropped my arm and took the holy cup between her two palms. She moved it around, inspecting every side. It was the most extravagant thing I’d ever seen. The gold metal was speckled like glitter and sparkled like a disco ball. All over the chalice were little crystals in all kinds of bright rainbow colors. It was exactly the kind of thing a person would picture in their mind for a holy chalice.

  I frowned. It was a little too perfect. Too obvious. I glanced around us again. There was nothing but us, the chalice, and the entrance a few feet back. Could it really have been that easy? Was the only issue a matter of being worthy enough to enter? It didn’t make any sense. If there was anything I’d learned in my life as Emperor, it was if something seemed too easy, then it usually wasn’t over.

  “This can’t be it,” Tegan said.

  I sighed with relief. I loved when we were on the same page. It confirmed what I was already feeling. “It can’t be this easy.”

  “You’re right. It’s not.” Gabriel appeared in front of us, on the other side of the glittery chalice. “Very well done. You will find many chalices within the Garden, but only one is holy.”

  Tegan set the chalice down on the stone pedestal. “How will we know?”

  Gabriel raised both hands then pressed a finger to our chests, directly above the crystal in our glyph. “This is your guide.”

  I opened my mouth then shut it again. There was too much to say, yet nothing at the same time. An Angel telling me to follow my heart was both predictable and surprising.

  Gabriel dropped his hands and stepped to the side of the pedestal. “Nothing here will harm you, unless you drink from the wrong chalice. Good luck. Heaven is with you.”

  And then he was gone. I looked back to the waterfall to get a glimpse of our friends, but nothing was visible through it. When I turned back, my jaw dropped. Gone was the white desert and blank sky. In its place was...paradise, of every kind. Everywhere I looked, there was something to see. Sprawling mountains with high peaks and waterfalls gushing from their sides. Luscious green grass and trees of every shape and size. In the distance, I spotted lakes with glass-like surfaces reflecting the white puffy clouds above. There were spots of color and light. I wanted to discover all of it.

  “Well, shall we follow the yellow brick road?” Tegan asked.

  I smiled and looked down at my soulmate. It was unreal to think that we were together in the Garden of Eden. Alone. Where humankind began. The holy land. Pride swelled inside me. I didn’t understand why or how Leyka had decided we were worthy, but all the worry over my oath to him disappeared. Well, mostly.

  “Tennessee?”

  I blinked and shook my head. “Sorry. Yes, let’s do this.” Then I did the thing I’d been dying to do for weeks—I reached down and took her hand in mine.

  We walked along the cobblestone pathway until it turned into bright green grass. I resisted the urge to take my shoes off. Barely. Birds chirped in delight as they flew over our heads. Rabbits and squirrels chased each other across our path. Butterflies fluttered around my face. The warmth of the sun on my skin was soothing while not being too oppressive.

  Everything around me was absolutely beautiful, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off Tegan. I didn’t know if it was knowing we were truly alone and the freedom in that that made her more breathtaking than I’d ever seen...or if the Garden’s sunshine made her skin glow a little warmer and her eyes sparkle a little brighter. Or maybe it was both. Maybe I just hadn’t let myself truly look at her for a while. We walked in silence, hand in hand.

  It was the weirdest thing...but it was comfortable silence. Pleasant. I didn’t feel any pressure to think of something to say to her. I wasn’t worrying what she might say to me. We just walked together, watching the Garden around us. Well, at least she did, I mostly watched her. I couldn’t help myself. The smile on her face was too wide, the flush in her cheeks too pink.

  If there were chalices around, I didn’t see them.

  Then she stopped. She stepped up to me and rested her chin on my chest then batted her long dark eyelashes. It was adorably distracting. “I said, we’ve reached a fork in the road.”

  I smiled and kissed her forehead. But then her words registered. I pulled back and frowned. Sure enough, just behind her head I spotted an intersection of sorts. Off to the left, the grass faded into golden sand with soft ocean waves rolling onto the shore. To the right, there was an intricate archway made of limestone that was covered in flowery vines, and beyond it a thriving garden of vibrant flowers beckoned us in. Up the center, the path disappeared between the trees and led into the tall mountains basking in the sunlight. Each option looked inviting.

  “What do you think, High Priestess?”

  “The beach. It seems the best place to look for a chalice. We both have water gifts. We both worked with Leyka and Keltie near water. Plus, it’s where I feel strongest.”

  “Then let’s go that way.”

  “But what do you think?”

  “That you’re brilliant.” I shrugged. “Your reasoning is logical and exactly what I would’ve said.”

  She smiled and shook her head. Her long black hair blew in the wind behind her like a cape. I tightened my grip on her hand and led her toward the ocean. The truth was, the water was both our elements. More so than any of the others. I, too, felt my strongest near it. Especially the ocean. The salty air and rhythmic pulse of the waves soothed me more than I could ever put into words. And the Garden of Eden’s beach did not disappoint.

  The white sand was soft and powdery. The water was calm, with only small waves rolling into the shore. I’d seen many oceans in my short life, but I’d never see
n the colors that vibrant. At the shore, it was almost entirely transparent, with just a hint of green. The Caribbean had taught me why it was called sea green, but this was definitely the birth of the name. There was aqua, then turquoise, then the richest blue I’d ever seen.

  Tegan giggled beside me.

  I looked down. “What’s so funny?”

  “Nothing. It’s just…” Her cheeks flushed a deep pink. “Your eyes are like this ocean. The most beautiful sea green and the most breathtaking ocean blue. Just like that.”

  “Tegan...” My cheeks turned warm, and I knew I was blushing. I’d been complimented many times by girls, and guys, but only she had the ability to make me blush.

  She shrugged. Then her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. She pointed out into the water. “Look, a chalice!”

  I followed her point, and sure enough, she was right. A white chalice floated on the ocean’s surface, blending in with the breaking waves. “Nice call.”

  We raced ahead without letting go of each other’s hands. I didn’t stop to take my shoes or clothes off, and neither did she. We’d both be able to dry ourselves on command. The water was the perfect temperature, cool enough to be refreshing but warm enough to be enjoyable. It almost made me want to stop and appreciate it. Almost. When we got up to the chalice, I discovered it wasn’t floating at all. There was a stone pillar holding it in place. The chalice itself was made entirely of white seashells.

  I reached out and picked it up. And felt nothing. I frowned.

  “What’s wrong?” Tegan whispered against my shoulder.

  “I just... Shouldn’t I feel something when I hold the holy chalice of the heavens? The Goddess created an entire species out of this and yet—”

  “I know. That’s what I keep thinking. It may not be a witch’s tool, but there should be an aura, some energy transferred upon holding it. We should feel...” She closed her mouth and stood up tall. “Oh my God. That’s it. We should be feeling our way through this.”

  I looked down at the chalice with the ocean rolling under it. “We’ve been thinking our way through this. We thought the ocean was a good idea for a list of reasons, yet none of them were a feeling.” I cursed and set it back down.

  “We need to relax. We need to take a step back to reset. We’re not acting like ourselves.”

  “Exactly. Relax.” I nodded and stared out at the horizon. If there was ever a place to chill out, we were in it. We needed to relax. To stop thinking. Stop stressing. Just let the ocean smooth everything out. I took a few deep breaths, but it wasn’t helping. I rolled my shoulders and wiggled my fingers. Relax. Just relax. I’m relaxing. I’m not thinking about this quest.

  Something smacked into the backs of my legs and swept my feet out from under me. I flew back and dropped under the water. It wasn’t easy to catch me off guard. I stuck my feet into the sand and pushed out of the water. My weapons were back outside the entrance, but I had my fists and magic. I raised my hands, ready to fight, except there was nothing in sight.

  A wave of water crashed onto me like a miniature tidal wave. What? I stumbled back a step, though only from surprise. A warm current slid between my legs and wrapped around my ankles. I frowned and kicked my legs. What is that? I hadn’t expected to be attacked inside the Garden of Eden. Gabriel said nothing would harm us.

  Something moved in my peripheral vision. I spun around and was splashed in the face with water.

  Tegan giggled and it sounded a little evil. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so confused.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile that wide,” I whispered before I could stop myself.

  If possible, her smile widened. She stared out at the now setting sun. Her black hair was the only dark spot in a world of vibrant colors. “Being alone with you soothes me. I love it.”

  “I love you.” I slammed my mouth shut. Oh God. I did it. I said those three little words.

  Tegan spun around so fast her hair wrapped around and smacked her in the face. She didn’t notice. Her light green eyes were wide and staring up at me.

  Oh God. My stomach turned.

  It was too late. There was no taking them back. I loved her, and now she knew. What if she doesn’t feel it back yet? What if it was too soon?

  She opened her mouth, and I stopped breathing.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Tegan

  Did he just say that? Or did I imagine it? I hadn’t expected him to say it. Of course I loved him, too. I’d already come to terms with that after the plane crash. But what if that wasn’t what he said, and I made things weird by saying it? I needed to be sure. He was a private person.

  “Say it again,” I whispered. I held my breath and waited. His long black waves flapped in the breeze. My fingers itched to touch the silky strands.

  He closed the distance between us then cupped my face with his hands. He leaned down. His ocean-colored eyes twinkled. “I love you.”

  Tears pooled in my eyes. My heart thundered in my chest like it was going to explode. I swallowed through a lump of emotion in my throat. The heat of his skin against my face lit my body on fire. “I love you, too.”

  The smile he gave me took my breath away. His eyes sparkled like diamonds. He sighed. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to say that.”

  My jaw burned from grinning. “I might be able to guess.”

  I grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled myself up until his lips crashed into mine. He tightened his hold on my face. My body went into sensory overdrive. All I knew was him. The smell of fresh rain. The taste of saltwater on his lips. The sound of our ragged breathing. The feel of his fingers pressing into my skin. Even with my eyes squeezed shut, my mind replayed the look on his face when I said the words.

  He slid one hand back and fisted my hair, angling my face up to deepen our kiss. His tongue brushed against mine, and I melted into him. I wasn’t sure what the noises leaving my throat were, but I was helpless to stop them. I just needed more of him, and I needed him closer.

  His words echoed in my head. I love you. I love you.

  I pushed his shirt up, breaking our kiss long enough to pull it over his head. There was a flash of tanned skin pulled tight over muscles that I wanted to ogle, but he gripped my waist and dragged my lips back to his.

  I sighed against his mouth and wrapped my arms around his neck. We stumbled and moved through the water, though I couldn’t have said which way. Water splashed us. Waves rolled against our legs. We paid no attention. All I knew was him. He slid his hands in a scorching hot path down my sides and then slipped under my shirt. I gasped. Something cold brushed over my face, but I ignored it. His hands on my bare skin were the hot lava to the volcanic eruption threatening inside me. I hadn’t realized we’d moved until my back slammed into something hard. I bit down on his bottom lip and groaned in pain.

  He pulled away to look at what we’d hit, then shrugged. “Just the pedestal.”

  “Oh,” I said with a nod. As long as it wasn’t a demon or dangerous animal, I didn’t care. I grabbed onto the vintage key hanging from his leather cord necklace and pulled him back to me.

  But instead of kissing me, he pressed his forehead to mine and sighed. “Tegan, we— Wait, what’s that?”

  I frowned and leaned back, only to find his eyes locked on my chest. When I looked, I discovered I stood only in my bra. That something cold must’ve been my shirt. Heat bloomed in my cheeks. I chuckled. Why does he look so confused? “Um, they’re called…?”

  “What?” He scowled and looked farther down. His cheeks turned bright red, and he looked away, shaking his head. A small chuckle left his lips. “No. No, not those.”

  That shouldn’t have disappointed me. Wait, then what is he looking at? I looked down at my chest. At first I didn’t see anything different. My soulmate glyph looked like ink against my fair skin, stretching all the way to my right shoulder now. The pink heart-like crystal in the middle of my chest pulsed like it usually did when he was near
.

  Wait. That was definitely not normal. It flashed neon pink, echoing my heartbeat. But then it moved. After lighting up the center, it rolled over to my shoulder like a wave crashing on the beach. It repeated the pattern.

  Tennessee’s tan fingers came into view as he ran them along the glyph lines. “Doesn’t feel any different, does it?”

  “Only when you touch me,” I whispered. Goose bumps that had nothing to do with the flashing glyph spread across my bare skin.

  He chuckled then tapped under my chin.

  I opened my mouth to say something I shouldn’t have when I realized his glyph was doing the same thing. “Tenn, look. It’s the same.”

  He looked down at his own chest and frowned. “It’s not the same, though. Mine is flashing from my shoulder to the crystal, and yours is going the other way.”

  My eyes widened. He was right. Our glyphs were both flashing the same neon pink color in the same direction, yet in opposite directions from each other’s. “What does it mean?”

  “Tegan…” Tennessee gripped my elbows. “It’s guiding us.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Tennessee

  I’m such an idiot.

  Of course Gabriel hadn’t meant to follow our hearts. I rolled my eyes at my own stupidity. Even when he said it, I thought it sounded like a weird thing for him to say. I should’ve listened to my own instincts. I should’ve thought about his word choices. He wasn’t being sentimental or cheesy. He was literally telling us how to find the holy chalice. By following our glyphs.

  I ran my fingers over her skin. “Look at the way these are flashing, like neon arrows.”

  Her eyes widened. “You think they’ll lead us to the chalice?”

  I shrugged. “I think I know why Leyka chose us.”

  She spun around so she was facing the same direction as me, then looked down at her chest. Sure enough, the flashing switched directions and matched mine. She ran her hand over her chest, and I looked away.